Overview
An honest portrait of the Pittsburgh Pirates for the all-weather fan
Genuine fans take the best team moments with the less than great, and know that the games that are best forgotten make the good moments truly shine. This monumental book of the Pittsburgh Pirates documents all the best moments and personalities in the history of the team, but also unmasks the regrettably awful and the unflinchingly ugly. In entertaining—and unsparing—fashion, this book sparkles with Pirates highlights and lowlights, from wonderful and wacky memories to the famous and infamous. Such moments include the final homerun hits of the 1960 World Series by Hal Smith and Bill Mazeroski as well as the drug scandal of the early 1980s. Whether providing fond memories, goose bumps, or laughs, this portrait of the team is sure to appeal to the fan who has been through it all.
Author Biography
John McCollister is a writer whose articles have appeared in publications including the Saturday Evening Post, Boston Globe, Ladies Circle, Entrepreneur, Writer’s Digest, Christian Herald, Family Circle, and Science Digest. He is the author of numerous books, which include Tales from the Pirates Dugout and The Bucs!: The Story of the Pittsburgh Pirates. He lives in Daytona Beach, Florida. Steve Blass is a broadcast announcer for the Pittsburgh Pirates and a former Major League Baseball pitcher for the same team. He was part of the 1971 World Series-winning team and he has been named to the All-Star team. He lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Press Releases
What fans don’t love to relive the good times of their favorite team? Likewise, in a twisted sort of way, what fans can really resist a self-pitying look back on some of those times that tested their allegiance? Those forgettable games, seasons, and plays that made the good times even better?
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Pittsburgh Pirates by John McCollister presents all the best moments and personalities in the history of the Pittsburgh Pirates. It also unmasks, but doesn’t revel in, the bad, the regrettably awful and the unflinchingly ugly.
In entertaining—and unsparing—fashion, this book sparkles with Pirate highlights, lowlights, wonderful and wacky memories, legends and goats, the famous and the infamous. You’ll relive the final homerun hits of the 1960 World Series by Hal Smith and Bill Mazeroski, the Fam-A-Lee of 1979, the World Series losses, the terrible 1952 Pirates, and the drug scandal of the early 1980’s.
The Good, the Bad, the Ugly Pittsburgh Pirates includes the best and worst Pirate teams and players of all time, the most clutch performances and performers, the biggest choke jobs and chokers, great comebacks and blown leads, plus overrated and underrated Pirate players and coaches. There are Pirates you loved for all the right reasons, and those you couldn’t stand, sublime and embarrassing records, and trades, both savvy and savagely bad. Brawls and fights. Rivalries. Compelling photos. And much, much more.
If you’re a through-thick-and-thin Pirates fan, The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Pittsburgh Pirates is especially for you. It will remind you of the good and great times and bring a knowing smile about some of those other times, when you proved to yourself just how loyal you are. For everyone else, this warts-and-all portrait of the Pirates will provide countless fond memories, goose bumps, and laughs.
About the Author: John McCollister is a lifelong Pirates fan who graduated with a B.A. in History from Capital University. He received his Masters of Divinity from Trinity Lutheran Seminary and his PH.D. in Communications from Michigan State University. His articles have appeared in a long list of publications including: The Saturday Evening Post, The Boston Globe, Ladies Circle, Entrepreneur, Writer’s Digest, Christian Herald, Family Circle, and Science Digest.. For 11 years he served as pastor of Lutheran Congregations in Michigan. During four of these years he was chaplain to members of the Detroit Lions and the Detroit Tigers.
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